Lemon slice squeezers



March 9 F. J. CASSlOPPl LEMON SLICE SQUEEZERS Filed Aug. 24, 1955 v1 0JL 8 v a .6 J 1H m a ,3 r HL mF 1 a (w )a w United States Patent Thisinvention relates to lemon slice squeezers designed to be worked betweenthe thumband forefinger of one hand, the, same being particularlyintended for use by bartenders, although such devices are, of course,

also useful by diners.

The salient feature of the device of my invention is the provision of aU-shaped spring metal holder designed to surround the rind and havinghorizontally inwardly projecting fingers between which the pulp of theslice is supported against buckling during the squeezing out of thejuice therefrom, the device being preferably also provided withvertically downwardly reaching fingers on opposite sides between whichthe horizontal fingers mentioned before are slidable as guides as theslice is squeezed, so that the first mentioned fingers do not deviatetoo far from their intended plane of operation and will not spread apartmore than a predetermined extent in the compression of the slice.

The horizontal fingers on each side in one form are arranged to interfitand work in coplanar relationship, and in another form the horizontalfingers on each side are slidable on one another in parallelrelationship,

while in still another form the fingers on each side have slidingcontact at least throughout a portion of the operation, the downwardlyprojecting guides on opposite sides being omitted with a view to greatereconomy and simplicity of construction.

Another feature of the present invention working alike in all of thethree forms mentioned, is a rind ejector in the form of a plungerslidable radially inwardly from the middle portion of the squeezeragainst the resistance of a return spring, so that after the juice hasbeen extracted and the squeezer is opened up again under its inherentspring tension the rind can be more readily removed preparatory to theinsertion of another slice to be squeezed.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which- Fig.1 is a side view of a lemon slice squeezer made in accordance with myinvention;

Fig. 2 isa horizontal section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, and

Figs. 3 and 4 are views similar to Figs. 1 and 2 showing a modified oralternative construction.

Similar reference numerals are applied to corresponding parts throughoutthe views. 1

' Referring first to Figs. 1 and 2, the dotted, substantiallysemi-circular object indicated at S may be taken to represent a lemonslice that has been placed in the squeezer indicated generally by thereference numeral 10, made in accordance with my invention. The squeezeris preferably made from a single piece of stamped and formed sheetmetal, the original blank being approximately in the form of a cross,two opposed arms of which are bent to define the generally U-shaped orsemicircular body 11 large enough to enclose therein a lemon slice inthe manner indicated at S, the extremities of the arms of the U beingbent inwardly, as indicated 'ice at 12, to define shoulders on which theends of the slice will find sufiicient support to prevent the slice fromslipping out at either end when it is squeezed. The lateral edgeportions of both arms of the U are bent inwardly, as indicated at 13, toform channels 14 in which the slice S is entered and held againstlateral displacement. Elongated horizontal fingers 15 are provided onthe one half of the body 11 on the portions 13 which, when the body 11is compressed between the thumb and forefinger of one hand, are arrangedto enter be tween similar fingers 16 provided on the other half on theportions 13, so that the pulp from which the juice is being extractedwill not buckle but will be confined and subjected to compression sothat the maximum amount of juice will be extracted. The body 11 is heattreated and tempered to have the desired springiness, so that it springsback to the open form of Fig. 1 after each lemon squeezing operation.

Figs. 3 and 4 show a modified form 10a, similar to the construction ofFigs 1 and 2 in so far as the U-shaped body 11a having its inwardly bentside portions 13a defining channels 14a is concerned, the one channelbeing, however, slightly narrower than the other for the sliding of oneside the other, as shown in Fig. 4. In this form, there are extensions15a on the one half slidably interengaged with extensions 16a on theother half to serve as guides from the commencement of the compressionof the slice to insure the smooth interfitting of one half in the other.Here again, the projections 12a serve to hold the slice in place at theends so that it cannot slip out.

Referring back to Figs. 1 and 2, the other two opposed arms of thecross-shaped blank are bent inwardly to define a U and provide fingers17 on the two legs of the U between which the two halves of the U-shapedbody 11 operate in the squeezing of a lemon slice, so that even thoughthe fingers 15 and 16 may be sprung apart to a certain extent in thecompression of the pulp that will not interfere with efiicientextraction of juice, because these fingers will then have slidingguiding contact with the fingers 17. The longitudinal edge portions 18of the fingers 17 are preferably bent outwardly to guide the fingers 15and 16 inwardly in the event the device has to be spread to an unusualextent to enclose a large slice, in which event the fingers 15 and 16are apt to be disposed in laterally spaced relation to the edges of thefingers 17. The fingers 17 are, furthermore, preferably ribbedlengthwise, as indicated at 19, for reinforcement thereof to resistspreading apart of these fingers in the squeezing operation, the ribs 19forming continu'ations of a transverse rib 20 at the middle of the body11. If desired, the ribbed portions 19 may be cut away at the lower endsof the fingers 17, as indicated at 21, to define upwardly taperedslots'adapted to receive the rim of a glass 22 with a wedging fit, sothat the squeezer, with a slice inserted, may be placed on the rim of aglass where the bartender prefers to let the customer squeeze as much oras little of the juice into a drink as he prefers. The arcuatetransverse ribs 23 defined on the body 11 on opposite sides of the rib20 are provided to reduce likelihood of crystallization of the metal byreason of concentration of the flexing on one line on each side of themiddle portion of the body 11. Smaller transverse ribs 24, are providedon opposite sides of the middle portion of the body 11 to serve asfinger grips to reduce likelihood of slippage during the squeezingoperation.

Referring again to Figs. 3 and 4, the squeezer 10a is similar to thesqueezer 10 in having fingers 17a provided on opposite sides betweenwhich the two halves of the body 11a operate in the squeezing of a lemonslice. In

7 this de' vi ce, l iowever, the lower .end portionsz25 ofrthe fingers17a are of enlarged circular form to serve to retain the lower middleportion of the slice against buckling r outwardly ineither direction inthe squeeZingJof the slice. IIhe fingers 17a 'havepreinforcing ribs 19a;longitudinally ,thereof, these ribs being continuationssof a:transverserib 30a across the middleportion of thee-body :11a. :The.;-transverse ribsj23a. on opposite sides: of; the: rib, 20a cor-,respond to the ribs -23 in F ignl andjare providedxfona "similarpurpose. Ribs-i similar to the'ribs,.24 in Fig. :1 lrnayflalsobesprovided on the squeezer 10a, as indicated ;at,24a.

Forrejectioncofcthe rind after juice extraction thereu-is provide d on:both; formsta "plunger 27 reciprocable :in a hole. provided inthemiddleof the body of the juice :ex-

tractor and operating-a curved elongated shoe :29 proyided on thelowerend' thereof for:engagementrwith,, the .rind at the middle portionof a lemon slic e,.so thatwhen gthe plunger 27 is pressed radiallyinwardly by .thumb and finger pressure on the head 30 provided; on theouter end of the plunger, a spent slice maybe more easily dislodged fromthe squeezer preparatory to entryof another slice to J be squeezed. Acoiled compression spring 31 surrounds the plunger 27 between thehead30, and the outside oftthe body 11' and normally holds the shoe 29 inretracted.-posi tion. g

.It is believed the foregoing description conveys a good understandingofthe objects andtadvantages oirny inven- :tiOH. The appended claims havevbeen .drawn-to., cover all legitimate modifications and adaptations.

I: claim:

1. A citrusjfruitslice squeezercomprisingqa;body. of spring materialthat is generally U-shaped in form and adapted to enclose a slice ofcitrus fruit to be squeezed by inward movement of the arms of theU-shapedMbody toward each other ,for' juice. extraction; the arms of.the .U-shaped'body being arcuate and having inwardlyproyjectingsubstantially parallel side walls .defining channels'ther'ebetween on the inner sides of .said arms in which to receiveopposite end portions of asslice of citrus'fruit' =and retain the sameagainsti displacement laterally dur- "ing the squeezing operation, theinwardly projecting walls -=on eachside of the ehannelsbeingvin.substantiallyrcoplanar relationship and said..walls havingfingers. that'are long in relation to their width projectinginwardly/therefromysaid fingers. being suflicientlyelongatedttoreach oneanother in 'thefirst stages of squeezing a slice of citrus fruitforjuice extractionand arrangedtointerfit slidably whenthejarms of the U.-shaped bo'dyiare broughtto- -gether inthe'final' stagesof the juiceextraction.

2. A--citrus"fruit slice squeezer comprising a bodymof spring materialthatis generally u-shaped .in ,form .v and adapted to'enclosea slice ofcitrus fruit torbe squeezed -by inward movement of the' arms ofjtheu-shaped body toward each other 1 for juice extraction, the i arms ,ofthe I U-shaped body being arcuate and having, inwardly pro- 4sufl-shapedsbodyuin planessin close proximity -to -ther-outer side ofthe inwardly projecting side walls on the arms of the U-shaped body andarranged to be slidably engaged by the latter in surface to surfacecontact as guides in the operation of the device.

3. A device as set forth in claim 2 wherein said guide fingers havelateral edgeportions which extend in outwardly diverging relation,whereby to facilitate entry of the inwardly-"projecting side *walls' onthe arms of the U-shaped body, between saidifingers.

4. A device as setfor'th' in claim 2 wherein the guide fingers have":means. reinforcing the,--same -againstspreading apartunderoutwardupressure against them of the inwardly projecting side wallson "the arms of the U- shaped body.

5. A device as set forth in claim 2 wherein the fingers are bifurcatedto permit their straddling the edge portion -;c aid-rinking glass whenthe device is -to' bemounted on ia;,tg'lais.

' 6.rA:deyicej, of the character described comprising a gen- :erallyU-shapedubody of I spring material adapted. to enclose a slice of citrusfruit to be squeezed -for juice exaztractiongthe arms ofithe U-shapedbody having-inwardly pprojectingvside 1 portions 'rdefining channels ion' 'theainner g'SidBSCOf saickarmssin which to receive opposite endporgttionssofi-ia sliceand: retain'the: same against' displacementlrlaterally sthe inwardly-z projecting side :portions on :eachc-sidewfi: the;channels- ;being in substantially: coplanan relat;tionshi-p rand rsaide side; :portions having fingersi projectingwinwardlytherefrom and, arranged to :interfitslidably when ttthesarmsgof;the;,U-shaped body are brought together-:in squeezinga'slice-iforzextraction of juice therefrom,;and2a ,pairt'of guidefingersin :spaced. parallel relation extending i ,from opposite; sidesof :the; cross-portion: of .the;body. -.in 35 planes in close proximitytothe inwardlyiprojectingzside portions of. .therarms of the .u-shapedbody and .arranged ,to:.be;slidably1engagedQ-bywthe first mentionedfingers as -guidesQin-the operation of the @device.

7.;A;deviceasqset forth in claim 6 wherein .theilateral iedge portionsofsaid guide fingers' extend in outwardly .diyerging relation.

8; A device'as. set forth. in claim 6 wherein 1 the: guide firigers-havemeans reinforcing the same againstrspreading apart under outwardpressure against them of they first .mentionedfingers.

' 9.Y;A:device as set forth in claim6 wherein: the guide fIfingerslarebifurcated :to i permit their straddling the: edgetportionuofnardrinkingt glass when the device e-is tOl-bc gmounted onaglass.

References Cited in thejfile of this patent UNITED STATES "PATENTS7261075 *Kress Apr.21,f I903 946,668 Filler ..'Jan. '18, 1 1910fl;l9-0,177 'l-Knapp July4,-=19l6 1;4l7,6l9 Male '=May 30, 1922113530340 Blabb et-al Mar. 17, 1925 2,184,454 Hill Dec. 2631939 FOREIGNPATENTS -40,-647 Austria Jan.:25, 1910 195,614 Germany -..-Feb. 21,11908Germany May '14, :1910

